UNF helping college dreams come true

A program there gives the disabled "an authentic college experience."

A couple of years ago, Kelsey Adams attended a conference where kids with developmental disabilities were interviewed about their hopes and dreams.

When her parents, Charles and Susan Adams, watched a video compiled from the interviews, they were surprised to hear her say: "My dream is to go to college."

At the time, Kelsey, who was born with Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality that results in physical and intellectual developmental disabilities, was attending Lee High School.

Under state law, Kelsey, 19, could have stayed there until she was 22, even as her peers moved on, many of them to college.

Instead, thanks to an innovative new program, she participated in graduation ceremonies this spring, getting a special-education degree.

Now she will fulfill her college dream as one of 15 students in the University of North Florida's On Campus Transition Program, starting next week.

The program will give her the opportunity to spend four years as a UNF student, attending some regular classes, going to other classes designed specifically for the students in the program, working in jobs on and off campus, and, most importantly, joining various clubs and organizations.

The goal is to provide "an authentic college experience," said Kristine Webb, an associate professor in UNF's College of Education and Human Services and director of UNF's Disability Resource Center.

"They will be ID-carrying UNF students," Webb said.

Charlotte Temple, director of advocacy for The Arc Jacksonville, who will be in charge of the program that provides special classes for the OCT students, said she hopes that eventually the program will include a residential component. Right now, however, UNF is struggling to build enough dorms for its growing student body so the residential part will wait, she said.

Even without on-campus housing, the OCT program will immerse its students in the college experience about as thoroughly as any such program in the country, she said.

"We want them to really participate in college life," she said.

Kelsey's parents have worked hard to provide their daughter every opportunity to participate in a normal life.

At Lee, she worked as manager of the volleyball team - and came away with a letter jacket - and served as an escort during the Mr. Lee program.

"She got a lot out of Lee," said Susan Adams, who is board president of the Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville and a member of the board of the National Down Syndrome Society.

Kelsey has worked as a counselor at several camps and just returned from serving, for the second year, as a junior staff member at The Able Trust Florida Youth Leadership Forum in Tallahassee.

Now she's heading off to UNF with the same sort of goals as most incoming freshmen.

"I want to get a good job," Kelsey said. "I'd like to be a teacher for kids and work with people."